Black Lives Matter Sacramento

PUBLIC STATEMENT

NOVEMBER 15, 2016

On May 18th, Nyree Holmes of Elk Grove, was escorted by Sacramento Sheriff school resource officers, from his graduation for refusing to remove his Kente Cloth. A symbol from Ghana thats colors represent things such as prosperity, good health, and longevity. 

When this happened, Black Lives Matter Sacramento held a press conference in front of the district office with demands for a change in rules that don’t allow students to represent their culture during a milestone event in their lives, such as graduation.

After the press conference, we met with district officials and discussed all the changes that should happen on Elk Grove campuses, so that every student can culturally and traditionally express themselves while crossing the stage, and also be treated with dignity and respect by teachers and staff in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

EGUSD was very willing to work with Black Lives Matter Sacramento, Parents, and community members, to push for these changes.

We had a series of meetings every month from June, up until October. In these meetings we worked to create new graduation guidelines that allow for students to have the right to express themselves while walking across the stage. 

We also discussed less of a police presence on campus, restorative justice, and many more changes we look forward to working with EGUSD to implement.

Tonight the school board will render a decision on whether or not they will allow students to have the freedom of expression during graduation. 

We will keep you up to date on the outcome. Stay tuned. 

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